GeTTiNg iN sHaPe.

It's hard for me to get mad at Mitchell. Even if he eats all my broccoli cheese soup! He's like the adorable puppy whimpering at you with his big, chocolaty eyes, while he sits on a shredded couch cushion. He can get away with anything. Even if he calls me a Moose-Face, as long as he says it with a smile, I'll look over at him and think, "Whatever. I just love you."

There is, however, a time and place where his gorgeous brown eyes do not contain the magic power needed to prevail against my natural-man... or woman emotions.

 This. Is. When. We. Workout. Perhaps the only time I can look back on our marriage where I feel the urge to slap him in the face with a wet foam pool noodle.

 He pushes me to my limits, and he knows it. Even if I'm clutching my side with both hands because of a stomach ache, ready to cry, and wanting to throw up in the nearest juniper bush, he'll tell me to keep running and pick up speed and that I'll still be alive at the end of the workout. There will be times when I'm ready to go home and quit, and he'll tell me to turn right instead of left so we can add a couple extra steep hills to the run before heading back.

Although I hated it the entire time, I got so much stronger because he pushed me!

Over the past few months I feel like I have been "spiritually pushed" far past my comfort zone, needing a lot of "long distance endurance" that really drained me mentally (if that makes any sense at all).

Before we were even married, Mitch and I talked about our future. We knew he wanted to be a pilot and we knew the sacrifices we would need to make to accomplish it. We knew we would have to hold off on starting a family, live in tiny apartments/with parents, and work, work, work, work, work, work, work.  I know I've talked about this all the time on this blog, so I won't go into many details, but basically after a lot of answers to prayers, we knew that this was the road we were supposed to take and that our flight goals would work out and that this was what we needed to be doing.

But the last few months were really hard for us, trying to move forward without the components necessary to do it. We've been in this confusing state of limbo waiting for things to happen that seemed to be out of our control and trying to find the faith to trust in God and know that there was a reason behind all these shenanigans.

I got frustrated. I was angry and became a spiritual grump. I was tired of waiting for things to work out and felt like Heavenly Father had abandoned us. It was horrible. It was like a running workout that never ended.

It's funny how the scriptures can always guide you, no matter what your situation is.  I'd think to myself, "There are no stories about flight school in the Book of Mormon! Nothing in here is gonna help guide me in my life." One day I was stressed about everything and upset and flipped open my scriptures. I ran across the Book of Helaman.

 Yea, we can see that the Lord in his great infinite goodness doth bless and prosper those who put their trust in him.

 Yea, and we may see at the very time when he doth prosper his people, yea, in the increase of their fields, their flocks and their herds, and in gold, and in silver... sparing their lives, and delivering them out of the hands of their enemies; ... yea, and in fine, doing all things for the welfare and happiness of his people; yea, then is the time that they do harden their hearts, and do forget the Lord their God....

I can't think of a time when I've felt more humility and been more disappointed with myself.  Here I was, with the most amazing life, showered with blessings, and I was bitter because ONE thing wasn't going right on my list.  I had forgotten how I had been blessed with a job in this economy, that I was healthy when others around me struggled with medical problems, I had a wonderful relationship with my husband while friends of mine were dealing with separation and divorce.  How could I possibly be upset and be able to feel anything besides gratitude for everything that I already had?!?

I went on to read...

Yea, behold at his ^avoice do the hills and the mountains tremble and quake.

Yea, and if he say unto the earth—Move—it is moved.

Behold, if he say unto this mountain—Be thou raised up, and ^acome over and fall upon that city, that it be buried up—behold it is done.

I had to have more faith in the things the Lord is able to do.  If he's able to move mountains, he’ll obviously be able to find a way for us to accomplish our goals.

And he has.  Everything has finally fallen into place.  We have reached the end, and I can finally see the finish line!  Mitch has been accepted into the ATP program in Jacksonville, Florida!  So Jacksonville it is!  We’ve packed our bags, sold our furniture, and we’re off on a long four-day journey at the end of the week.

Everything that has happened to us has made us stronger.  I have learned more about patience and gratitude and trust in the Lord than ever before.  I have learned that I’m never abandoned and to always remember my blessings.  I am so thankful that Florida has worked out.  My heart is full of so much gratitude towards everyone who has prayed for us and helped to make this possible.

As we set off on this grand, new adventure I hope I’m able to hold on to all these growing experiences.  Although I wasn’t able to see it at the time, these trials have helped me to better become “spiritually in shape.”  I may have hated it, but looking back, I’m glad I was able to experience it. 

AAAAAAAAND... WE ARE MOVING TO FLORIDA THIS WEEK!!!  WHAT THE!?!  SoOoOoOo ExCiTeD!